Your Guide To Perth's Museums

Despite being one of the most isolated cities in the world, Perth is home to an array of museums covering all fields from aviation to medical history. Whether you are only visiting Perth or a local, discover the museums that appeal to your interests.

AUTOMOTIVE: Motor Museum of Western Australia

Nestled within Whiteman Park, the Motor Museum of Western Australia is the ideal place for motoring and local history enthusiasts alike. Discover models, tools, metal and painted signs, photographs, newsletters and manuals from a range of cars and motorcycles dating back to the late 19th century and associated memorabilia. This museum is one of the world’s leading examples of Motor Museums that is run by the public for the public.

AVIATION: Aviation Heritage Museum

AVIATION: Aviation Heritage Museum

Created by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Association of Western Australia, the Aviation Heritage Museum is home to several military and civilian aircraft alongside replicas and engines since early 1929. This unique museum includes thousands of artefacts, displays and guides to help all aircraft lovers explore the very best of one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most fascinating museums.

HEALTH & MEDICAL: Western Australian Medical Museum

Beginning its life as Perth’s first maternity hospital, the Western Australian Medical Museum today occupies the heritage-listed Harvey House in Subiaco. Whether you wish to explore traditional Aboriginal medicine, the original X-ray Department at King Edward Memorial Hospital, early pharmaceuticals or the Royal Flying Doctor, the Medical Museum offers a wide array of exhibitions that explore the heritage of the field.

MARITIME: Western Australian Maritime Museum

MARITIME: Western Australian Maritime Museum

Symbolic to Fremantle’s iconic maritime past, present and future, the Western Australian Maritime Museum offers visitors the chance to explore the state’s unique relationship with the sea. With a range of iconic vessels, leisure boats, handcrafted sailing boats and commercial pearl luggers – including the winning America’s Cup yacht Australia II, the HMAS Ovens submarine and Jon Sanders’ Parry Endeavour – this waterfront museum is a must for anyone visiting and living in Perth.

MILITARY: Army Museum of WA

MILITARY: Army Museum of WA

Housed within a historic artillery barrack in Fremantle, the Army Museum of WA was established in 1977 to commemorate the heritage of the army with integrity. It features archival materials – documents, photographs, letters and diaries, and artworks – from the colonial period right through to present day, alongside guns and vehicles that were used throughout military action including WWI, WWII and East Timor.

NATURAL HISTORY: Western Australian Museum

For over 120 years, the Western Australian Museum – Perth has encouraged the public to explore the state’s natural history through the engaging research, public programs and exhibitions. From the moment you walk into the state museum, you are witness to the iconic, rare blue whale skeleton before exploring the history and geology of Western Australia. Not only can you explore the ‘white’ history, but you can also discover the culture of the local Aboriginal people.

The Museum is currently under renovation. New museum scheduled to open in 2020.

PERFORMING ARTS: Museum of Performing Arts

PERFORMING ARTS: Museum of Performing Arts

With more than 40,000 catalogued items of memorabilia collected by Ivan King, the onsite Theatre Historian, the Museum of Performing Arts contributes to the livelihood of Western Australia’s performing arts. Located within His Majesty’s Theatre, there are a variety of costumes, photographs, scripts and scores (alongside many other pieces) to portray the many dance, opera, comedy and drama performances throughout the years – with the oldest item dating back to 1854!

PRISON: Fremantle Prison

The former mid-19th-century Australian prison in Fremantle is a living piece of history and is Western Australia’s only World Heritage-listed building. Explore the six-hectare site of cellblocks, a gatehouse, cottages, tunnels and perimeter walls that are covered in history and occasionally prisoner art. Fremantle Prison offers a variety of tours throughout the day and night for you to hear about the daring escapes and passageways the prisoners went through every day.

SCIENCE: Scitech

In 1988, the permanent interactive science museum Scitech opened, encouraging the public to understand the impact science has on everyday living. Providing lively interactive exhibits and demonstrations on science, engineering, technology and maths, the museum is the perfect place for anyone wanting a more hands-on approach to science. Also onsite is a unique dome Planetarium offering a truly ‘out of this world’ experience.

SOCIAL & CULTURAL: Museum of Perth

The most recent edition to the Perth museum scene is the Museum of Perth. Starting as a virtual museum in 2012 on Twitter, and quickly expanding to Facebook, the private nonprofit museum became a reality in late 2015. Becoming a permanent exhibition, the Museum of Perth allows visitors to explore the history of the city, with a range of rotating exhibitions on the social history of Perth.

SPORTS: WACA Museum

SPORTS: WACA Museum

For all the sports fanatics, a trip to the WACA Museum should not be questioned. Standing as the home of cricket in Western Australia since the 1890s, the WACA (Western Australia Cricket Association) is also host to a variety of other major events; ranging from AFL and soccer to Rugby League and athletic carnivals, and even the occasional music concert. A tour through the museum will allow you to explore the history of cricket and the WACA grounds, and admire the memorabilia from throughout the years.